Jesus says, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” — Matthew 16:24.
Jesus emphasizes the word “wishes,” highlighting that following Him is a conscious choice. Like every important decision in life, choosing to follow Jesus comes with significant implications. For those who wish to be His disciples, the first step is self-denial.
Understanding Self-Denial
In today’s self-centric culture, we often hear phrases like “believe in yourself,” “follow your heart,” “put yourself first,” and “love yourself.” While these ideas promote self-worth and confidence, they often conflict with the teachings of the Kingdom of God. The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. The very self that society elevates is what Jesus calls us to forsake.
Why is self-denial crucial? Because, in our natural state, we are not inherently good. The self, unless renewed through the Spirit of God, is full of sinful desires. Sin thrives in the self, and the cross is meant to strip us of this sinful nature. When we come to the Lord, we are filled with self and sin. He empties us and fills us with His Spirit.
Living with the Mind of Christ
Adopting the mind of Christ involves several key shifts in perspective and behaviour:
- Belief in God Over Self: While self-reliance can lead to failure, God never fails. He is perfect and infallible. Trusting in ourselves is like building a house on sinking sand; it’s bound to collapse. Trusting in God is like building on the rock of ages, which never breaks and always sustains us.
- Esteeming Others Above Ourselves: With the mind of Christ, we value others more highly than ourselves. We love others as if they were our very selves and treat them as we would like to be treated.
- Following the Holy Spirit: Rather than following our hearts, we listen to the Holy Spirit. We hear God’s voice through His word and strive to put His teachings into practice.
Embracing a New Identity in Christ
Denying self also means relinquishing the cultural or social identities we have acquired to fully embrace our identity in Christ. As new creations in Christ, we are called to think and walk not according to the world’s ways but according to God’s ways. Our true identity is found in Him.
Taking Up the Cross
Taking up the cross signifies a willingness to endure the persecution that comes with living for Christ. People may distance themselves from you when they realize you no longer think as they do or condone past sins. You may be misunderstood, tagged negatively, or even cancelled. This is part of the cost of discipleship in today’s context.
However, Jesus reassures us: “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life” — Mark 10:29-30.
He also said, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?” (Mark 8:36). Living for Jesus offers eternal rewards far greater than anything this world can provide.
Following Jesus requires self-denial, adopting the mind of Christ, embracing a new identity, and taking up the cross. While the journey may be challenging, the eternal rewards make it more than worthwhile. We gain everything by living for Jesus—not just in this life, but for eternity.
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